In an interview with Radio Iowa, Tim Pawlenty strikes a neutral chord on Rick Perry's imminent campaign kickoff, while correctly noting that the Texas governor hasn't yet been subjected to the intense scrutiny that Pawlenty and his rivals have been facing for months:

“I’d expect Rick will run,” Pawlenty said. “I think that is increasingly clear. I like him. I’ve traveled with him internationally. We were governors at the same time together and so I have a lot of respect and regard for Rick Perry, but my campaign doesn’t rise or fall as to whether other people do or don’t get into the race. Everybody brings certain strengths and weaknesses to the campaign and, you know, there’s always an early phase of people coming in and getting some initial buzz and then things settle in once you have to do all the interviews and get questioned and have all the articles scrutinize you."